Bryant rallies past Northeastern, Rizy earns first career win

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh and held on for an exciting 8-7 victory over Northeastern on Wednesday afternoon at Conaty Park.

Bryant trailed 6-5 entering the seventh but scored three times, with Matt Woods breaking the tie with a two-out, two-run single, to earn its first over Northeastern since May 3, 2017. The Bulldogs closed out the victory with a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

Woods finished 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Jackson Phinney homered and drove in three. Phinney's opposite field two-run home run tied the game at 5-5 in the sixth and his sac fly tied the game at 6-6 in the seventh. John Tuccillo, Logan Allen and Matt Smith all had two hits, while Allen, Smith, Tommy DiTullio and Phinney scored all eight of Bryant's runs.

On the mound, four Bryant pitchers combined to walk three and strike out eight on the afternoon. Freshman Kyle Rizy earned his first collegiate victory, tossing 3.0 innings of one-run relief. He didn't surrender a hit, walked two and struck out five.

Game Information
Bryant 8, Northeastern 7
Records: Bryant 15-19| Northeastern 18-18-1
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Kyle Rizy (1-1) | Langan (1-2) | Christian Allegretti (2)

Key Moment

• Woods broke a 6-6 tie with a two-out, two-run single in the seventh.
• With the bases loaded in the ninth, Allegretti induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.                                  

How it Happened

• Northeastern opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second.
• Bryant quickly answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Allen, Smith and DiTullio all singled to start the inning and James Myler brought in the first run with a sharp single past the second baseman. Woods then hit a potential double play ball to second but beat out the throw to first, allowing the tying run to score.
• The Huskie retook the lead with an RBI single past the drawn in infield in the third.
• Bryant answered in the fourth. Phinney reached on a throwing error and took second on the overthrow. Myler moved him to third with a ground out and Jake Gustin scored him with a hard single through the left side.
• Two singles and a sac fly made it 4-3 Northeastern in the fifth. An infield single to third plated a second run to make it 5-3.
• In the sixth, DiTullio fell behind 0-2 but was able to work a leadoff walk. Phinney followed with an opposite field two-run home run to tie the game at 5-5.
• Northeastern grabbed the lead back in the seventh without the benefit of a hit. A walk, a passed ball and two wild pitches scored the run.
• Bryant quickly answered, scoring three times in the home half of the seventh. Allen was hit by a pitch, Smith reached on an infield single and DiTullio was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Phinney then lifted a fly ball to left that was dropped, bringing home the first run. After a strikeout, Woods greeted the Northeastern reliever with a two-run single to center.
• Northeastern attempted a comeback in the ninth as the first two batters singled. After a strikeout, a double down the left field line made it 8-7. Bryant chose to intentionally walk the next batter and Allegretti induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.    

Stats and Game Notes

• Bryant is now 10-7 all-time vs Northeastern. The Bulldogs beat the Huskies for the first time since May 3, 2017.
• Woods posted his team-leading 14th multi-hit game of the year, going 3-for-5.
• With a first-inning double, Woods now has 13 doubles on the year.  
• Woods is now 15-for-22 with 13 RBI over his last four games.
• Tuccillo, Allen and Smith all had two hits.
• Allen, Smith, DiTullio and Phinney all scored twice.
• Phinney hit his fourth home run of the year.
• Tuccillo extended his on-base streak to 17 games.
• DiTullio extended his on-base streak to 14 games.
• Liam LeVangie started and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits over 3.0 innings.
• Jackson Vanesko allowed two runs on four hits and struck out two over 2.0 innings.
• Rizy earned his first collegiate victory with 3.0 innings of one-run relief. He didn't allow a hit, walked two and struck out five.
• Allegretti earned his second save of the year.

Up Next
Bryant welcomes Sacred Heart to Conaty Park for a three-game Northeast Conference series beginning on Friday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.